Young Alumni Impact Award

Dillon Sumanthiran ’20

J.D. Candidate, UCLA School of Law
Global and Public Health Sciences

Dillon has built an extraordinary record of professional achievement grounded in service, justice and public health. He began his career during the COVID-19 pandemic, advising pharmaceutical and biotech companies on commercial strategy before pursuing his passion at UCLA School of Law. There, he completed a federal judicial internship, and he now advocates for incarcerated individuals through UCLA’s Federal Appellate Prisoners’ Rights Clinic and serves as chief articles editor for the UCLA Criminal Justice Law Review. Combining legal rigor, global health insight, and a deep commitment to community, Dillon consistently works to improve systems and support vulnerable populations. His commitment to Cornell has never wavered. As Class of 2020 co-president, he drove record-breaking Reunion attendance, and as the Cornell Association of Class Officers vice president, he created strong pathways of support for both current students and recent graduates.